Peer-to-peer learning/teaching: An effective strategy for changing practice and preventing pressure ulcers in the surgical patient

Hospitals are increasingly focused on finding cost effective ways to ensure patient safety and enhance quality outcomes. Hospitalized patients are at increased risk for a variety of complications, one of the most common is the development of pressure ulcers. In 2008, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid services, the largest payer source for older adults in the US, began to withhold reimbursement to care facilities for pressure ulcers (Stage 3 or 4) that develop as a result of hospitalization. Staff nurses are ideally positioned to prevent the development of hospital acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs); however, studies reveal several barriers including a knowledge deficit of causative factors, incorrect identification and staging of wounds, inaccurate use of risk assessment tools and an under utilization of evidence-supported prevention intervention strategies (Ilesanmi et al., 2012; Sievers et al., 2012). This paper examines a cost effective, innovate approach to address these barriers and reduce hospital acquired pressure ulcers using peer-to-peer learning/teaching with staff nurses.